I t is the cardio regarding Poultry. Konya, a region out of so many souls, leg squats slap in the center of Anatolia’s nuts simple, enclosed by open, endless prairie. Turkey’s very culturally old-fashioned urban area, Konya looks initially to get a place away from tight headscarves and you can foreboding beards, out-of ostentatiously noticed pieties and you may taboo drinks. But discovering Konya is not difficult – getting here, in the middle of one’s old area, within his tomb out-of turquoise tiles, was Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is amongst the earth’s very understand poets. During his existence, and because their dying from inside the 1273, pilgrims came so you can Konya. Now, Rumi’s tomb was Turkey’s 2nd very-decided to go to site visitors appeal after the Topkapi Palace during the Istanbul. Rumi try a mystic, a great Sufi saint exactly who appreciated the religions, and you will whoever own religion are like. Their followers would (but still perform) clean out themselves within the hypnotic trance and dance, possibly rotating including tops right through the day.
There was a massive, epic the latest civil auditorium where which tender whirling individual dancing is did, and you may any amount of lovely sleek-eyed mystics in the carpeting shops, cafes and you will medieval bazaars, the happy to help you ask one to an exclusive zikhr
This type of spinning dervishes are in reality the fresh symbol regarding Turkey’s tourist ways, and you can drink beverage on your Istanbul resorts reception enjoying particular bad bloke from inside the a tall beige thought hat whirling having your amusement. To the real thing, though, started heree to Konya and you also visited Turkey’s soul. During the Rumi’s terms and conditions:
“Anyone who you may be, started Even though you are An infidel, good pagan, or a good fireworshipper, started All of our brotherhood is not certainly depression Though you has damaged Their vows out-of repentance one hundred moments, started.”
Every year given that 1983, I have already been upcoming on one or two million-or-very people whom check out Konya per year. Some are Turkish, some Iranians (whom allege Rumi since their individual, since the guy had written within their words and you will was born in eastern Persia) along with improve pilgrimage.
In the place of to make Konya a halt on a coach journey, I would suggest staying for some days, soaking-up an impact, restaurants some of Turkey’s most useful lamb, viewing their top Seljuk architecture and you will – possibly – dropping in love with Rumi. You could potentially travel from inside the cheaply from Istanbul, from which there is a great scruffy, atmospheric train, or appear by road. Konya is within effortless reach of your own cavern dwellers and you may carpet vendors out-of Cappadocia.
Rumi arrived right here since an effective boy, when Konya had been a district for a few,000 decades. It had been founded because of the Hittites, have been succeeded by Phrygians, then the Lydians, Persians, Cappadocians, the fresh leaders from Pergamon while the Romans, who known as put Iconium. New orleans saints Paul and Barnabus one another preached here, but because kissbrides.com imperative link of the 1071 the latest Seljuks, a Turcoman tribe, was in fact in charge, and their structural heritage endures.
Its Karatay Medrese of 1251 is actually a work of art out-of ornate tiling and you will harmonious domes. It’s today brand new Museum away from Tiles and Ceramics, whose contents maintain the vibrancy and you can punch they’d whenever basic discharged. Nearby, the Ince Minarali Medrese happens to be the brand new Art gallery off Brick and you will Wood Sculpture, which will be much less dead than just We have made it voice. Those two buildings whet your appetite to discover the ornately tiled Sircali Medrese, together with fantastic Sahip Ata mosque: unlike much of the fresh Muslim business, in the Turkey you’re encouraged to go to mosques, any sort of your own spiritual preferences.
From the junction of your dated urban area and its ugly the latest neighbor ‘s the Alaaddin mosque, the newest city’s vantage area, whose gorgeous black pulpit and you will painful and sensitive prayer-market come from 1155 (brand new state-of-the-art try finished in 1221). The new boulevard radiating from here provides you to definitely Rumi’s tomb, at which a great deal more later on. Rumi may Turks as the Mevlana (this new Sainted One), now Konya is during thrall so you’re able to Mevlanamania.
As i first appeared, Mevlana’s supporters, the fresh Mevlevi, was a banned organization, tolerated simply for their “folkloric dancing” and whirlings. Conferences were held secretly, dishonestly.
I mentioned dinner, as well. Konya’s lamb-centric cuisine is excellent. Etli ekmek is actually an extended, narrow move-right up pizza spread having delicately spiced mince, and you will Konya kebab is actually a lamb shank, extremely slow roasted and offered towards the a cushion from dough that have a sweet yellow onion. Best is at Konak (Restoran, Akcesme mah. Piriesat Cad. Zero 5, +ninety 332 352 85 47), whoever soup and you will handmade natural yogurt are paradise-made.
Therefore, fantastically fed, along with of several cups of sweet tannic teas in you, help make your treatment for Rumi’s tomb. Your join the awestruck, the brand new curious as well as the fervent. A mystical twinkly light plays to the tombs out-of Rumi and you will their supporters. New walls is actually stitched which have calligraphy, and ceilings is actually an effective kaleidoscope off superbly performed arabesques. Rumi’s tomb is included in greatly padded cloth regarding gold, and seems to glow white and you can comfort and you can mercy.
Are typical moved, having listed here is love
A number of your other pilgrims tend to realize Korans, while some Rumi’s poetry. Most capture images, while this is purely taboo. There are individuals who cry gently, and people who make fun of out loud; those who meditate all the time, and people who hurry through.
To experience unofficially and you will insinuating by itself to your understanding ‘s the ney, good reed flute. It sounds particularly breathy air, it is truly the sound away from flames, and that rises and you may falls inside people. This is not certain sullen religious whining, nevertheless voice off wanting, away from communion, of the cardiovascular system. You’ve got they – it’s heart music, and it also really supplies you with. Very been.
Turkish Airlines (020-7471 6666) flies to help you Konya thru Istanbul of Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham and you can Manchester, out of ?219 rtn inc fees. Istanbul to Konya from the rail costs from all around ?24 go back, or around ?thirty six get back because of the bus. Resorts Balikcilar has actually room or about ?70 (and also have serves cold drinks). Resort Dergah (+90 332 351 76 61) bedroom as much as ?20. Tickets observe the newest whirling dervishes was free of the fresh new tourist place of work, behind Mevlana’s tomb. Mete Horzum from the SeleneTour (+ninety 532 564 9192, ) arranges individual spinning and you will zikhr off ?30pp.